Page 32 of Perfect Blend

He finished the water, leaving a lipstick mark on the edge. “Yeah, let’s pack up.”

I smiled at him, and he returned it, but something was off. Hopefully just nerves or exhaustion. Even if nothing sexual happened, I would be happy if I could get Mikey to sleep next to me.

“Let’s go before we get roped into more conversation.”

We made quick work of changing into comfortable clothes and removing our makeup. A few people filtered in and out of the room to change or freshen up their makeup. Normally, I would’ve closed the bar down with the others, but I only wanted Mikey.

“Ready?”

Mikey threw his duffel bag over his shoulder. “Yup.”

He still had faint traces of the lipstick on his lips and a tiny patch of eyeshadow under an eyebrow.

Anticipation built on the short—yet quiet—drive home. I was glad I’d refused drink offers because I didn’t want anything interfering with our time together.

As we climbed out of my car, I realized I hadn’t asked if Mikey still wanted to come over. “Sorry. I just drove here without checking with you first. Do you still want to come in?”

A complicated expression I couldn’t decipher crossed his face. “Yes.”

He was probably as nervous as I was. I would rip the bandage off.I unlocked my door and ushered him inside. We locked eyes, and Mikey bit his bottom lip. It nearly did me in. I leaned into the need coursing through me and pushed him against my door, silencing his gasp with a kiss. We clung to each other desperately as I pressed my body to his.

“Dave,Dave.” Mikey sighed into my ear as I kissed down his neck and up his throat until I met his lips again.

I intertwined my fingers with his and began to walk us to my bedroom without stopping our kiss. I bumped against my coffee table.

“Wait.” He kissed me again. “Wait, wait.”

I pulled back enough to look into his eyes. “What?”

Mikey shoved his fist in his hair and squeezed his eyes closed. When he opened them, they were filled with so much longing and regret that it stole my breath away. “There’s something I have to tell you.”

* * *

MIKEY

A cold sweatbroke out on my skin as I studied Dave’s flushed cheeks and dark rose-stained lips. The last thing I wanted was to stop things, but I would hate myself if we went further without him knowing everything. Things between us were about to change forever, and I hoped it would work out in the end. Ineededit to. After connecting with Dave again and finding Jack, I couldn’t let either of them go.

“I discovered something, but I didn’t mean to. I didn’t mean to violate your trust. I’d never do that. I—”

Dave grabbed my shoulders. “Hey, take a breath. Whatever it is, it’s okay. Come on.” He guided me to the couch.

Guilt threatened to drown me. I was about to take away his anonymous confidant, and he was comfortingme. He was too good for me. I dropped my elbows to my knees and covered my face with my hands.

“You’re scaring me, Mikey. What’s going on?”

Just do it.Making him anxious while I pulled my shit together wasn’t helping anything.

I straightened and looked at him. “I’m Bricker.”

Dave’s eyebrows pinched, and he angled his head like he was trying to work out the words. His eyebrows shot to his forehead, and the briefest and most beautiful smile broke out on his face. It was gone so quickly—replaced by shock and fear—that I thought I’d wished it into existence.

“That’s impossible.”

“Jack, it’s me.”

He leaned away. “How did you find me? Is that why you reached out for this story?”

I reached for his hands and was relieved he didn’t pull them out of my grip. “I didn’t know until tonight. When you asked me to get your phone, the screen turned on, and I saw the message I sent you when I parked at the bar this afternoon. I promise I told you as soon as I could. I tried to tell you at the bar but saw you talking to Travis.”

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